'Located in Beirut': IDF increases use of GPS jammers amid tensions with Hezbollah, Iran

Users using navigation applications reported their locations as being in the capital of Iran, Tehran, or Lebanon.

 Captain A.' from the 5114 Battalion.   (photo credit: via walla!)
Captain A.' from the 5114 Battalion.
(photo credit: via walla!)

The IDF has increased the use of GPS jammers in Eilat, on the Jordanian border, and near the northern Lebanese border, amid the possibility that Hezbollah and Iran would launch precision missiles and unmanned aircraft toward Israel.

Even at the end of Netanyahu’s visit to the United States nearly two weeks ago, flightradar24 – a website that shows passenger plane flight data on a map in real-time – showed that the Wing of Zion plane landed in Beirut because of GPS disruptions.

Last week, the IDF announced that due to fear of an Iranian response to the assassination of the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, disruptions were activated in the navigation applications Waze, Google Maps, and Moovit in central Israel.

The applications’ locations did not correspond to the users’ real locations. They showed users as being in Iran or Lebanon.

Since October 7, the IDF has operated proactive disruptions mainly in the northern and southern regions of the country. The disruptions are supposed to interfere with hostile aircrafts and drones that use GPS systems for navigation.

 Where are we heading? An illustration of the Waze logo. (credit: DADO RUVIC/REUTERS)
Where are we heading? An illustration of the Waze logo. (credit: DADO RUVIC/REUTERS)

Recruitment for the North, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip areas

On the morning of October 7, the commander of the Electronic Warfare Unit, Col. Y., started general recruitment and began operating in three sectors: the North, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

On Saturday night, the unit reported about 130% recruitment of reserves, among them an 80-year-old veteran.

The Electronic Warfare Unit is a mixed tactical unit that operates in enemy territory to disrupt activity in the spectrum space and enable uninterrupted activity for IDF fighters on all fronts.

The unit is able to move from place to place quickly to assist other units in action.